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I think the Special Longer Version only included some scenes that were used to extend the time for the network broadcast premiere, as there was unfinished footage showing the soundstage walls. Those same scenes may be added features on the Director's Cut.

Anyone know where I can legally buy a copy of STAR TREK: The Motion Picture (special longer version) on DVD?

All I can find is the theatrical version, the Director's Edition, and VHS copies of the longer version.

Call me picky, but I'd been hoping for a DVD.

If anyone has any suggestions...

Thanks.

Other than VHS or maybe Laser Disc, I don't know. But I hope Paramount decides to re-release that along with the extended version of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn.

From memory: the bonus footage in TMP really helped flesh out the story, while the extra minutes in TWOK were just added to an already great motion picture.

Melakon wrote:

I think the Special Longer Version only included some scenes that were used to extend the time for the network broadcast premiere, as there was unfinished footage showing the soundstage walls. Those same scenes may be added features on the Director's Cut.

No, it wasn't just for time. I believe they aired on ABC and that is important for two reasons: 1) they didn't seem to mind going long with their Sunday night movies back in the day; 2) they, for a period, always strove to make them "events" by doing such things as including extra footage (aside from TMP and TWOK they also did it with Superman: The Movie and maybe others I can't readily recall).

Mike Farley wrote:

The Special Longer Edition was not released to DVD. VHS is your only legal recourse.

Well, there is always the old recourse of a polite letter-writing campaign - which I have found to have a higher rate of success in these types of matters.

In fact, some years back, I was looking for a Republic chapter-serial from the late-30s/early 40s. I did some online research and got an e-mail address and wrote the company. About six months later it was on the shelf of my local Best Buy.

The SLV is the only version that includes the complete argument between Kirk and McCoy ("And another thing...." "Get out of here, Bones."), isn't it? That's one of my favorite scenes in the whole film. I don't know why the theatrical and DE cuts removed it. It requires no effects, after all...

__________________
Sweet dreams are made of cheese
Who am I to diss a brie?
I cheddar the world and the feta cheese
Everybody's looking for Stilton

The SLV is the only version that includes the complete argument between Kirk and McCoy ("And another thing...." "Get out of here, Bones."), isn't it? That's one of my favorite scenes in the whole film. I don't know why the theatrical and DE cuts removed it. It requires no effects, after all...

The added scenes, IIRC, are rough looking - taken literally from the cutting room floor and re-added into the film.

ST:TMP, as originally released, had a runtime of 132 minutes which was the studios' final cut, while, the version with the extra 12 minutes, I believe, represented Robert Wise's final director's cut.

The longer version was the same as the ABC (American) TV version with two differences-

The TV showing was horribly dark. The VHS version corrected that. Also, when Epsilon Nine is monitoring the fight between V'ger and the Klingons, their computer shows the fight on one screen, on the other a printout of the computer's spoken words. An old 4x3 TV picture could only show one screen. ABC showed the computer's words, the home video release showed the screen with the Klingons.

As for "stuff from the cutting room floor" and "unfinished sets", in one extended scene the latter is true...if you notice it. It doesn't stand out (in my opinion). The rest of the extended scenes are screen-worthy in every way. They just make for alternate presentations of scenes.

I never realized the longer version has never come out on DVD. After it was released on VHS it became the only version you could buy. Now the opposite is true? Weird.

The SLV is the only version that includes the complete argument between Kirk and McCoy ("And another thing...." "Get out of here, Bones."), isn't it? That's one of my favorite scenes in the whole film. I don't know why the theatrical and DE cuts removed it. It requires no effects, after all...

My guess would be because it seems disrespectful and it makes Kirk look bad, and it somewhat contradicts the earlier scene in the Transporter Room when McCoy beams aboard and is greeted by Kirk. In this scene in Kirk's quarters, Kirk does not seem to need Bones "Badly!" anymore, for the moment. So, Kirk needs McCoy for the mission, but not for his personal or professional life, until McCoy points out Kirk's obsession with getting command of the Enterprise and commanding the Enterprise.

James T. Kirk: Yeoman?
Yeoman: Yes, sir?
James T. Kirk: What was the problem down there?
Yeoman: He insisted we go first, sir. Said something about first seeing how it scrambled our molecules.
James T. Kirk: [to Rand] Has a familiar ring, doesn't it? Starfleet, this is Captain Kirk. Beam that officer up now.

Preceding dialogue in 2001 Director's Edition. Following dialogue included in all versions of the film.

The SLV is the only version that includes the complete argument between Kirk and McCoy ("And another thing...." "Get out of here, Bones."), isn't it? That's one of my favorite scenes in the whole film. I don't know why the theatrical and DE cuts removed it. It requires no effects, after all...

The added scenes, IIRC, are rough looking - taken literally from the cutting room floor and re-added into the film.

But in the theatrical cut, McCoy's opening statement in that argument ("The point, Admiral, is that it's you who's competing") is quite obviously dubbed in. When he says that same line in the SLV (later in the argument), it's "live", as it were. It sounds much more natural in that version.

__________________
Sweet dreams are made of cheese
Who am I to diss a brie?
I cheddar the world and the feta cheese
Everybody's looking for Stilton

That's probably why I seem to recall it looking out-of-sorts and rough. Good info.

As for "stuff from the cutting room floor" and "unfinished sets", in one extended scene the latter is true...if you notice it. It doesn't stand out (in my opinion).

I didn't notice the unfinished set (Spock exiting the Enterprise to meld with V'ger) on my DVD copy until it was pointed out to me (and I have probably watched the movie somewhere around 75 times since '79).

Opinion: No matter which version is being discussed I liked the TMP, and feel it has gotten a bum rap. Almost like people are overly harsh about it because there is sort of a bandwagon thing going on.

The rest of the extended scenes are screen-worthy in every way. They just make for alternate presentations of scenes.

My opinion: the added scenes do a bit more than just providing an "alternate presentation." I seem to recall they justified their inclusion by the positive affect they had on the overall film - to the point where I originally felt TMP would have fared better critically if they'd been there from the start.

Of course, no right or wrong on this point just an alternate recollection and opinion.

I never realized the longer version has never come out on DVD. After it was released on VHS it became the only version you could buy. Now the opposite is true? Weird.

Same thing with "The Wrath of Kahn" extended version where I believe it was released on laser disc but, not to my knowledge anyway, DVD.

Eventually someone at Paramount will realize this is a great way to get fans to re-purchase both films (hopefully on Blu-ray ).

The SLV is the one that's been on VHS since At least 1986. it was the one I had for 18 years until I got the 2001 DVD in 2004. Once I noticed the differences, I copied my SLV tape onto a DVD-R. If you want it on DVD, that's the only way you'll get it for now.